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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Author Laurie Lewis--aka L.C. Lewis, author of the Free Men and Dreamers historical fiction series--is giving away a copy of her new women's fiction title, Awakening Avery. Actually, she's giving away two copies...one on May 31 and another on June 2.

For a chance win a copy on May 31, read the first chapter to Awakening Avery by clicking here, then answer the following question in the comment section of this post: What event prompts Avery to seek out a "healing place" for herself and her family along Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast?

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

I’m adapting the rules slightly: I’ll be quoting some random lines from the last chapter I read before I post my teaser. I'm a slow reader, so you'll probably get multiple teasers for this book. Here is the second teaser for The Last Enchantment:

There was, of course, a princess. Young, lovely, sprung from a line of ancient Welsh kings joined with a noble Roman clan. Arthur himself came from no higher stock.... And now one saw why the long-drawn panegyric, and the eye slightly askance at the young king.

Her name, it seemed, was Guinevere.

From The Last Enchantment, by Mary Stewart, p 250

If you'd like to share a Teaser from a book you're currently reading, I'd love you to do so in the comment section. And you don't even have to share it on a Tuesday! Be sure to include the title, author, and page number in case others would like to check out the book you're reading, too!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Didn't I promise you a big, awesome summer contest? Now didn't I??? Here it is!

Welcome to our second annual “Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win” Contest! Last year, some author friends and I put together a month long contest where we gave away a prize a day for the entire month of June. The contest was so successful that my friends and I have decided to do it again…only this time we’ve gathered together enough prizes to last through the first week of July! Again, we have something for everyone: romance, fantasy, mystery, suspense, historicals, contemporaries, young adult and middle grade fiction; children’s picture books; and a variety of non-fiction titles. We also have some exciting non-book prizes: a hand crocheted book tote and cell phone case; a book/jewelry combo; a Mary Kay cosmetic assortment; a The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe DVD; and (you aspiring writers won’t want to miss this one!) a free edit/critique for the first 50 pages of an unpublished novel by a three-time published author!

How can you enter to win one of these awesome prizes? Just follow the rules below!

SUMMER TREASURE HUNT RULES:

You can send in an entry for each day’s prize, or only for those prizes that strike your fancy. The rules are simple:

(1) Go to the website or blog indicated for each day, find the answer to the question for that day, then email the answer with your name and AND MAILING ADDRES tojdipastena@yahoo.com. I promise you will not wind up on any mailing lists. This is only to facilitate the receipt of your prize. All entries will be deleted at the end of the contest.

(2) Please send a separate entry for each day and type the day you are entering in the subject line. (Such as: Summer Treasure Hunt, June 1; Summer Treasure Hunt, June 2, etc).

(3) Deadline for each day: Midnight PST

(4) The winner will be contacted and announced on the day following the deadline.

You do not have to wait until the designated day to enter. You can start sending in your entries right now, or begin entering at any point along the way. And check back here each day between June 2nd-July 9th to read the names of the winners.

QUESTION: Avery's signal that she isn't handling her husband's death very well comes to her when she tosses what into what? (Hint: Look under “books &reviews, then click on the cover to Awakening Avery and read the first chapter)

PRIZE: Some Secrets Hurt(picturebook), autographed copy, plus a handmade cuddling blanket. This picture book is for all ages. It is simple enough to be understood by a very young child, meaningful enough to appeal to teenagers, informative enough to be helpful to parents, and powerful enough to reach out to a wounded adult.

QUESTION: The only thing worse than finding out that your child is being sexually abused is ____ ____ ____? (Hint: Listen to 5 minute KSL TV interview on the right side of the website or dowload the free Parents’ Guide)

PRIZE: (New/Sealed) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (Widescreen DVD)

QUESTION: In Danielle Thorne's novel, Turtle Soup, what is the name of the marine biologist who inspires Sara Hart to name her deli Turtle Soup? (Hint: read the blurb for Turtle Soup on Danielle’s website homepage)

QUESTION: What was Melinda doing when she first met Gilbert and why did he act flustered and then abruptly turn and briskly stride away? (Hint:. Click on “Sample Chapters” tab, then on the book title for Melinda and the Wild West to read a sample chapter.)

QUESTION: A legendary LDS author of over 30 books for teens called Taken by Storm, "An amazing story written with a clear, refreshing and creative voice." Who was it? (Hint: check “Taken By Storm” tab)

QUESTION: What is the name of the angel who needs a vacation in my recent pamphlet, “Could You Be an Angel Today? (Hint: Play the book trailer for “Could You Be an Angel Today” on Christine’s home page)

QUESTION: There is a picture of Cindy holding two dragons on her website, http://www.cindyrwilliams.com/ The names of the dragons are in the caption below the picture. What are their names? (Hint: Look on the “Book” page)

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

I’m adapting the rules slightly: I’ll be quoting some random lines from the last chapter I read before I post my teaser. I'm a slow reader, so you'll probably get multiple teasers for this book. Here is the first teaser for The Last Enchantment:

Arthur turned sharply on his heel and came back to stand in front of me. He had taken off the crown and jewelled chain, and laid his sword aside, but he still wore the splendid coronation robe. The furred cloak lay across the table like a stream of blood in the lamplight.

From The Last Enchantment, by Mary Stewart, p 87

If you'd like to share a Teaser from a book you're currently reading, I'd love you to do so in the comment section. And you don't even have to share it on a Tuesday! Be sure to include the title, author, and page number in case others would like to check out the book you're reading, too!

Saturday, May 15, 2010

I just finished reading Queen in Exile, a fantasy romance by Donna Hatch. I'll be reviewing her book as part of her blog tour, so you'll have to wait until then for my impressions. :-)

Back now to an "old" book for my reading challenge...kind of. The Last Enchantment, by Mary Stewart, is the final book in her Merlin trilogy. It's been sitting on my bookshelf since high school at least, next to its sister books, The Crystal Cave and The Hollow Hills. I presume that I read it at some point, since I remember that it was from this book that I first learned that there is a legend that there were actually two Guenivere's in Arthur's life, not just the one that we know so well today. So I must have read this book to find that out, right? And yet, so far, the book seems somewhat unfamiliar to me. At the very least, I clearly never read it as many times as I did The Crystal Cave and The Hollow Hills.

Nevertheless, the fact that I remember the part about the two Guinevere's convinces me that I did, in truth, read this book at least once before, so I'm counting it as an "old read"...even if I don't remember anything else about it! Maybe more memories will come back as I get deeper into the book. We'll see!

In the meantime, here's the back cover blurb from The Last Enchantment (this is the cover that most nearly mirrors the one on my copy):

Arthur is King! But while he is unchallenged on the battlefield, sinister pwers plot to destroy him in his own Camelot. When the red-gold witch Morgause, Arthur's half-sister, ensnares him into an incestuous liaison--and bears his son, Mordred, to use to her own evil ends--a fatal web of love, betrayals and vengeance begins...

Seen through the eyes of Arthur's prophetic protector, Merlin--whose own mysterious powers are in dire danger--here is a tale rich with the majesty ad turbulence of the magnificent lend it tells...resplendent with Mary Stewart's own special magic.

I will share a Tuesday Teaser from The Last Enchantment with you on Tuesday. In fact, judging from the other two books in the series, I'll probably share three Tuesday Teasers with you before I finish the book!

If you'd like to join my 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge, its not too late! Click hereandherefor more information. And remember, there are prizes involved if you join us! :-)

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

I’m adapting the rules slightly: I’ll be quoting some random lines from the last page I read before I post my teaser. I'm a slow reader, so here's my second teaser from Queen in Exile:

After seeing them comfortably seated, Thenisis took Jeniah by the hand again and looked deeply into her eyes. At first touch, Jeniah felt infused with light. Then she recognized the presence of the priestess inside her mind, hearing her thoughts, feeling her emotions.

Queen in Exile, by Donna Hatch, p 218

If you'd like to share a Teaser from a book you're currently reading, I'd love you to do so in the comment section. And you don't even have to share it on a Tuesday! Be sure to include the title, author, and page number in case others would like to check out the book you're reading, too!

About Me

Joyce DiPastena fell in love with the Middle Ages when she first read Thomas B. Costain’s THE CONQUERING FAMILY in high school. A graduate of the University of Arizona with a degree specializing in medieval history, she is a multi-published, multi-award winning author. She specializes in sweet medieval romances heavily spiced with mystery and adventure.
Joyce lives in Arizona with her two cats, Clio and Glinka Rimsky-Korsokov

Joyce's books and stories

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"As an inspiration to the author, I do not think the cat can be over-estimated. He suggests so much grace, power, beauty, motion, mysticism. I do not wonder that many writers love cats; I am only surprised that all do not." ~ Carl Can Vechten